Manifolding appliance for fanfolded forms



Oct. 27, 1942. J. G. KERR I MANIFOI DING APPLIANCE FOR FANFOLDED FO RMS Filed Jan. 2, 1941 3 Sheets-:Sheet l znv-eniow;

Jbmea 6a-rdo-n Kerr J. G. KERR MANIFOLDINC APPLIANCE FOR FANFOLDED FORMS Oct. 27, 1942.

s Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Jan. 2, 1941 live Jain ea Gordon Kerr Oct. 27, 194-2. J m g- I 2,300,256.

MANIFQLDI G APPLIANCE FOR FANFOLDED FORMS Filed Jan. 2, 1941 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 fiven'rov; .famea Harder), Z err Patented Oct. 27, 1942 MANIFOLD'IN G APPLIANCE. FOR; FAN- FOLDED FORMS James Gordon Kerr, Washington, D. 0., assignor to GilmanFanfold Corporation, Niagara Falls, N. Y., a corporation of Delaware Application January 2, 1941. Serial No. 372,713.

13 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in a manifolding device or biller, and more particularly to a device of this character of'the portable type, so as to be readily held in the hand duringentry of inscriptions upon the record strips and which may be conveniently carried from place to place so as to be convenient for use in merchandise delivery systems and for similar purposes.

It is a general object of the invention to provide, in manifolding devices ofthe class mentioned, an improved construction and arrange-' ment whereby inscriptions may be made on record strips of the long, continuous traveler typeand at the same time the inscriptions are transferred to the leaves of a record book or pad.

Another object of the invention is to provide a manifolding device with an improved arrangement for supporting the transfer carbon sheets.

whereby said sheets may be readily insertedin. transfer relation with long, continuoustraveler strips of the fanfold type, the novelarrange ment being such that the transfer sheets may be quickly and easily inserted into the folds of the fanfolded record strips and also conveniently removed either for adjustment thereof orforasubstitution of a fresh transfer sheet.-

According to another feature of improvement, a carbon sheet carrier or supporting'frarne is mounted in a novel manner above the writingplaten so as to provide a means whereby the carbon sheet may be very quickly and easily carried or moved from operative transfer position on the platen, and in this manner. provide-for.

the insertion of a copy record leaf in-inscription receiving position beneath the transfer or carbon sheet.

Another object is to provide an improvedicarrier for a transfer sheet for use in a manifolding' device and being constructed andarranged in a:

rangement for supporting the long, continuous record strips in writing position above the frame and upon the writing platen.

Still another object of the invention is to provide an improved mounting for the writing platen whereby said platen, aswell as-the carbon sheet carrier, may be quickly andconveniently leaves of the supply pad into a storage compartment provided therefor beneath the platen.

A further object of the invention is to provide an improved arrangement of the storage-compartments for the continuous record supply and for the inscribed leaves of the record pad, whereb afresh supply of-recordstripsmay be conveniently insertedin thebiller and also providing a convenient arrangement for disposingof and protecting the inscribed. record leaves.

Another object isto provide an improvedselactive means providing for raising therca'rbon carrier alone or'for raising'jsaidi carrier and. the

platen'together as a unit, vwhere'byito.facilitate the positioning of'theitransfer sheet and to provide for disposal of the inscribed record. leaves in'the storage compartment provided therefor.

A further object is to simplify the structure and to enhance its usefulness by providing an improved articulation-between the carbon carrier frame, the platen, and the top cover plate for the record supply compartment whereby'said elements maybe separately controlled or moved in unison.

According to another feature of improvement, the supporting arms for the carbon sheets: are mounted so as to be movablewith the platen when the latter is raised and thus avoiding interference with the adjustment of the record strips and carbon sheets during raising or lowering movements of the platen.

A further object is to provide an improved mounting for the carbon sheet'supporting arms and to provide a loose articulation of saidarms with the platen .unit, thus providinga fiexible'adjusting arrangement whereby' the arms may be positioned for convenient access during replacement of the carbon sheets or during adjustments thereof.

Another object is to provide an improved. carbon sheet supporting arm having an angularly disposed or offsetportion by means. of which the arm is connected in position and serving, furthermore, to retain the arm in its operative position.

Other objects of the invention will be in part pointed out in the following detailed description of an illustrative but preferred-embodiment of the invention and will be in part obvious in connection therewith.

The invention accordingly; comprises the featuresof construction, combination of elements and arrangement ofxparts which will be exemraised so asrto provide for insertionofiinscpibedi 55; plified inithe. construction. hereinafterxset forth,

be indicated in the claims.

For a more complete understanding of the nature and objects of the invention, reference is made to the following detailed description and to the accompanying drawings in which:

Fig. l is a perspective view of an autographic register of the portable type embodying the invention;

Fig. 2 is a plan view thereof, parts being broken away and in section in order to disclose more clearly the structure and arrangement;v

Fig. 3 is an enlarged vertical longitudinal-section taken substantially on the longitudinal center line of Fig. 1; r

Fig. 4 is a transverse vertical section of Fig. 3;

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary perspective View showing the articulation of the carbon carrier frame, the platen and the top cover plate; and

Fig. 6 is a transverse vertical section substantially on the line 66 of Fig. 3.

Referring to the drawings fora detailed description of the illustrative embodiment of the invention there shown, an autographic register of the portable type is provided having a casing indicated generally at H), which may be of metal, fibre board, wood or other appropriate material. The casing shown is of box-like construction having side walls H, end walls l2, and a bottom I3, thus providing an interior compartment or housing space in which the record supplies may be disposed. A cover plate I4 overlies the supply compartment having a downwardly extending flange providing an end wall I5 positioned adjacent to one of the end walls I2 and being pivoted at I6 adjacent to one end of the casing, whereby said cover plate may be swung upward- 1y from its normal operative position so as to expose the supply compartment for access from above. The rear end of the cover plate I4 is supported in its normal operative position by inwardly turned flanges Ila. on the side walls ll. One or more tie rods I! extend transversely of the casing, being anchored in opposite side walls H for bracing and rigidifying the structure.

Retaining walls l8 extending both longitudinally and transversely within the casing are preferably provided for the purpose of retaining the record supply pad or pack S of long continuous record strips in its normal operative position. These walls are arranged to support the supply pad against undue longitudinal or transverse movements during the handling of the manifolding device in use.

At the end of the casing opposite the pivotal support IE it is preferable to provide an auxiliary cover plate H! which may be conveniently pivoted on the transverse tie rod so as to be raised and lowered. This auxiliary cover plate overlies the adjacent parts of the mechanism and preferably extends only a sufficient distance longitudinally of the casing to provide a protection for the carbon sheet supporting mechanism and for the record strips as they emerge from the supply compartment into writing posi- 2,300,256 and the scope of the application of which will attached carrying a supporting rod 2i to which the platen plate 22 is connected for swinging movement. This platen plate extends forwardly over the cover plate M to or slightly beyond the forward end wall of the casing, and for substan tially the width of the latter so as to provide a writing surface upon which the various record strips or sheets are supported during the entry of inscriptions. At its rearward end the platen plate 22 has a downwardly extending flange 23 which is bent around the supporting rod 2| to provide a pivotal mounting for said platen. This flange has oppositely disposed guiding lugs 24 struck up therefrom so as to provide guides for .the opposite edges of the record strips emerging from the supply compartment. It will be noticed that the cover plate I4 is bent or deflected downwardly near the forward end of the casing while the platen plate 22 is bent or deflected upwardly at a, point thereof toward the rearward end of the casing so as to provide a spacebetween these two plates. This space is adapted to provide a housing compartment for certain of the inscribed record sheets, as more fully described below.

As most clearly seen in Figs. 3 and 5, a carbon sheet carrier or carrier frame 25 overlies the platen 22, being pivotally mounted at its rearward end on supporting lugs extending downwardly from the platen plate, as shown at 26. This carbon sheet carrier, as shown, preferably embodies transverse end frame members 21 and side frame members 28, the latter preferably having downwardly extending, rigidifying flanges. This construction provides an opening in the carbon sheet carrier through which the carbon, sheets are exposed for transfer inscription on; underlying record sheets, as will be later more clearly disclosed. Also, the carbon sheet carrier is ordinarily provided with a support or clamping bar for clamping the carbon and record sheets in position. In the embodiment shown such a clamping bar 29 is pivoted at 30' to the forward end of the carrier frame, being v preferably made of spring metal and being adapted to engage in its clamping position with a latch or clevis 3| for holding it in sheet-retaining position. Also, the carrier frame is provided at its forward end with apertures 32 for receiving strip-engaging pins 33 upstanding from the forward surface of the platen plate 22. It will be noticed that the cover plate l4, platen plate 22, and carbon sheet carrier frame 25 are all articulated in a single unit and may be moved together as a unit, as, for example, when the cover plate [4 is raised on its pivot [6. Also the platen plate and carrier frame may be swung together as a unit upon the pivotal mounting 2|, while the carrier frame 25 may be swung alone independently of the other two elements.

At its forward end the platen plate 22 is provided with a lug or projection 34 extending at one side thereof outwardly beyond the adjacent edge of the carrier frame. This projecting lug forms a handle by means of which the platen and carrier frame may be raised together as a unit. At its opposite marginal part the carrier frame 25 is formed with a similar lug or projection 35 extending outwardly beyond the adjacent marginal portion of the platen plate 22, thus providing a handle whereby the carrier frame may be raised'or manipulated independently of the platen plate.

At the'rearward end of the platen plate beneath theauxiliary cover 19, carbon sheet sup-.

porting members or bars are mounted. Each of these supporting members 'is preferably in the form of an elbow bar 36 having a part extending transversely of the platen for receiving and supporting the respective carbon or transfer sheets and having an angularly disposed part extending rearwardly and connected in operative position. Each carbon sheet supporting bar is loosely articulated to the platen plate, as by means of an inverted U-shaped staple 31 anchored to the platen plate, each of these supportingstaples extending through an opening in the angularly disposed section of the supporting bar, thus providing for free swinging movement of said bars in different planes. This loose or flexible articulation of the elbow bars is provided for the purpose of facilitating the movement of the bars to and from operative position, whereby the carbon sheets may be inserted into the folds of fanfolded traveler record strips or removed therefrom, as will more clearly appear later on. Upwardly extending lugs or flanges 38 are connected to the platen plate adjacent opposite edges thereof, being positioned for engagement with the rearwardly extending, angularly disposed sections of the elbow carbon sheet supporting bars. Thus, it will be seen that the bars will be retained in their operative position by cooperation of these supporting lugs, as shown in Figs. 2 and 5.

A supporting bracket 39 is mounted on one side of the casing carrying a clamp 40, preferably some well known form of spring-clamp whereby a supply pad of record leaves A may be clamped and held in operative position. The record leaves of this supply pad may be of any desired quality of paper, either translucent or opaque, and are intended for the purpose of forming a permanent record of the several transfer inscriptions which may be retained for record in the manifolding device. A protective cover sheet A of cloth or paper or other appropriate material may be held by the clamp 40 in position to overlie and protect the record pad.

The record strips S are of the long continuous traveler type and are conveniently zigzag folded into a fiat supply pad S which is housed and retained within the supply compartment of the register. Also, the record strips are shown as being of the fanfold type, for which this improved manifolding device is well adapted. As will be understood by those familiar with this art, this fanfolded continuous traveler record strip is formed by providing opposite longitudinal folds S throughout the length of the sheet forming the record strips, as will be seen in Fig. 4.

The carbon or transfer sheets C are supported in interleaved transfer relation with the record strips by means of the elbow supporting bars, as shown in Fig. 2. Each carbon sheet is preferably provided vvith a supporting loop C for receiving the carbon supporting bar 36.

In setting up the device for the reception of inscriptions which are ordinarily entered by means of a pencil or pen, the continuous traveler record strips are pulled forwardly from the supply compartment over the platen 22 and above the carbon sheet carrier frame 25, the strip-controlling pins 33 being inserted in the forwardly disposed strip-controlling apertures S thus aligning the strips and placing the blank forms thereof in correct writing'position over the platen. The strips are then clamped in position by closing the clamping bar 29. The carbon sheets C extend forwardly from their supporting bars over the carrier frame 25, being interleaved" in transfer relation with the record strips The lower carbon sheet lies directly in supported con-' tact with the supporting frame 25 and is sup ported thereby in its operative position. This lower carbon sheet will be supported at'its longitudinal marginal portions and atforward and rearward parts thereof by means of the longitudinal and transverse. frame members of-the supporting frame. Alsothis lower carbon sheet is preferably of sufficient length to engage with the supporting pins 33, as shown in Fig. 3, being provided with apertures for receiving said pins, thus aiding materially in supporting the carbon sheet in its fiat extended transfer position. It will be noticed that the lower carbon sheet is supported and maintained in extended position by virtue of the supporting frame 25, and that the lower transfer surface of this sheet is exposed downwardly through the frame opening into transfer contact with one of the record'leaves of the record pad A, whereby inscriptions made upon the upper record strips will be transferre to this leaf of the record pad.

One of the leaves of the record pad A may be very readily inserted in flat position on the platen merely by raising the carbon carrier frame on its pivot 26'bygrasping the extension 35 of said frame. This raising of the carbon supporting frame will, of course, raise the record strips and all of the carbon sheets, thus exposing thetop surface of the platen, whereupon one of the leaves A may be swung into writing position upon the platen. The frame is then loweredto its normal operative position, and the desiredinscriptions may then be entered. After completion of the inscriptions, the platen and carbon sheet carrier may be raised together by grasping the platen extension 34, whereupon the inscribed record leaf of pad A will be withdrawn from the platen and permitted to fall by gravity into the storage compartment provided therefor between the platen and the top cover plate Hi. This storage compartment thus provides a housing for the inscribed record leaves of pad A which may be retained in the machine as long as desired. After an inscription has been entered as described, the inscribed record strips may be pulled forwardly upon releasing them from the pins 33, whereupon the pins will enter the next successive strip aper tures when coming in alignment therewith, and stopping the strips in the correct inscribing position. It is to be observed that the pins may be very quickly and easily withdrawn from the strip apertures merely by raising the supporting frame 25 upwardly slightly so that the strips clear the tops of the pins. In this connection, it is to'be particularly observed that the frame 25 provides a support for the record strips as well as for the carbon sheets. As the record stripsare pulled forwardly, the supporting frame 25 is permitted to fall so that the next successive controlling apertures are entered by the pins 33. a By virtue of the elbow carbon sheet supportin arms and the flexible articulation thereof, it will be seen that the carbon sheets may be very read ily swung into position in the folds of the fanfold record strips or removed from interleaved position. Due to the angularly disposed rearward extensions of each bar 36, the carbon sheet sup.- ported thereby may be readily swung outwardly away from the machine soas to be Wholly clear of the record strips, whereupon the carbon sheet may be removed and a fresh one placed in position. The supporting bar, together with the fresh she'et, is then-swung into interleaved transfer relation with the record strips and is held'in its operativepposition by engagement of the rearward bar extension with the adjacent retaining lug 38. It will be seen, therefore, that this method of articulating the supporting bars provides a very convenient means for adjusting and renewing the carbon sheets. Y

Since certain changes may be made in the above construction and difierent embodiments of the invention could be made without departing from the scope thereof, it is intended that all matter contained in the above description or shown in the accompanying drawings shall be interpreted as illustrative and notin a limiting sense.

Having described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent nation, a platen for supporting continuous record strips in inscription receiving position, means for supporting a pad of leaves for movement into inscription receiving position on said platen, a' transfer sheet supporting frame movably mounted adjacent to said platen so as to position the transfer sheet carried thereby for transferring inscriptions made on said record strip to'a leaf of said pad, said supporting frame having an opening through which the transfer sheet is exposed in transfer relation to said pad leaf, transfer sheet supporting means longitudinally spaced from said supporting frame for supporting one or more transfer sheetsin transfer relation with the continuous record strips on said platen, and means for checking feed movement of the record strips with inscription areas thereofin transfer alignment with the pad leaf.

2. A manifolding device including, in combination, a platen for supporting continuous record strips in inscription receiving position, means for supporting a pad of leaves for movement into inscription receiving position on said platen, a transfer sheet supporting frame movably mounted adjacent to said platen so as to position the transfer sheet carried thereby for transferring inscriptions made on said record strip to a leaf of said pad, said supporting frame having an opening through which the transfer sheet is exposed in transfer relation to said pad leaf, said frame having supporting means for supporting a record strip in inscription receiving position overlapping said opening and said transfer sheet, and transfer sheet supporting means including one or more elbow sheet supporting arms loosely articulated to the manifolding device and longitudinally spaced from said supporting frame for supporting one or more transfer sheets in transfer relation with the continuous record strips on said platen.

3. A manifolding device including, in combination, a platen for supporting one or more continuous record strips in inscription receiving position, means for supporting a pad of leaves for movement into inscription receiving position on said platen, a transfer sheet supporting frame movably mounted adjacent to said platen so as to position the transfer sheet carried thereby for transferring inscriptions made on said record strip to a leaf of said-pad, said supporting frame having an opening through which the transfer sheet is exposed in transfer relation to said pad leaf, said frame having supporting means for supporting a record strip in inscription receiving position overlapping said'opening and said trans- 1. A manifolding device including, in combifer sheet, said frame having an aperture-in'the vicinity of one marginal part thereof, anda strip controlling pin mounted on said platen and po-, sitioned for extending through said frame aperture to engage in apertures in the record strip for controlling longitudinal movement of said strip.

4. A manifolding device including, in combination, a platen for supporting one or more continuous record strips in inscription receiving position, means for supporting a pad of leaves for movement into inscription receiving position on said platen, a transfer sheet supporting frame movably mounted adjacent to said platen so as to position the transfer sheet carried thereby for transferring inscriptions made on said record strip to a leaf of said pad, said supporting frame having an opening through which the transfer sheet is exposed in transfer relation to said pad leaf, said frame having an aperture in the vicinity of one marginal part thereof, and a strip controlling pin mounted on said platen and positioned for extending through said frame aperture to engage in apertures in the record strip for controlling longitudinal movement of said'strip.

5. A manifolding device including, in combination, a platen for supporting one or more continuous. record strips in inscription receiving position, means for supporting a pad of leaves for movement into inscription receiving position on said platen, a transfer sheet supporting frame movably mounted adjacent to and overlying said platen so as to position the transfer sheet carried thereby for transferring inscriptions made on said record strip to a leaf of said pad, said'sup-' porting frame having an opening through which the transfer sheet isexposed intransfer relation to said pad leaf, supporting means for said transfer sheet separate from and positioned outside of said movable transfer sheet supporting frame and having supporting engagement with a part of the transfer sheet extended beyond said movable supporting frame for supporting the transfer sheet in the manifolding device, and selectively arranged operating extensions for said supporting frame and said platen whereby the frame may be raised independently of the platen and whereby said frame and platen may be raised together as a unit.

6. A manifoldingdevice including, in combination, a-p1aten for supporting continuous rec- 0rd strips in inscription receiving position, means for supporting a pad of leaves for movement into inscription receiving position on said platen, a transfer sheet supporting frame movably mounted adjacent to and overlying said platen so as to position the transfer sheet carried thereby for transferring inscriptions made on said record strip to a leaf of said pad; said supporting frame having an opening through which the transfer sheet is exposed in transfer relation to said pad leaf, said platen having a supporting extension by which the platen is pivotally mounted on the manifolding device and said supporting frame being pivotally mounted with reference to the platen, and one or more elbow transfer sheet supporting arms loosely articulated to said platen supporting extension for'supporting one or more transfer sheets in transfer relation with the continuou record strips on said platen.

7. A'manifolding device including, in combination, a platen for supporting one or more continuous record strips in inscription receiving position, means for supporting a pad of leaves for movement into inscription'receiving position on said platen, a transfer sheet supporting frame movably mounted adjacent to and overlying said platen so as to position the transfer sheet carried thereby for transferring inscriptions made on said record strip to a leaf of said pad, said supporting frame forming a support for the overlying record strips and having an opening through which the transfer sheet is exposed in transfer relation to said pad leaf, said platen being pivotally mounted on the manifolding device, said supporting frame being pivotally mounted adjacent to the pivotal mounting of the platen so as to have pivotal movement separate from that of the platen or in unison therewith, said supporting frame having an extension for raising it with the overlying record strips and transfer sheet on its pivot with reference to the platen and away from the pad leaf positioned thereon, and said platen having an extension for pivotally raising the platen and frame together as a unit with said record strips, pad leaf, and transfer sheet.

8. A manifolding device including, in combination, a platen for supporting one or more continuous record strips in inscription receiving position, means for supporting a pad of leaves for movement into inscription receiving position on said platen, a transfer sheet supporting frame movably mounted adjacent to said platen so as to position the transfer sheet carried thereby for transferring inscriptions made on said record strip to a leaf of said pad, said supporting frame having an opening through which the transfer sheet is exposed in transfer relation to said pad leaf, said frame having supporting means for supporting a record strip in inscription receiving position overlapping said opening and said transfer sheet, and an elbow carbon supporting arm loosely articulated to said manifolding device and positioned for supporting a carbon sheet in transfer relation with said record strips.

9. A manifolding device including, in combination, a platen for supporting continuous record strips in inscription receiving position, a supporting extension atone end of said platen, means for supporting a pad of leaves for movement into inscription receiving position on said platen, a transfer sheet supporting frame movably mounted adjacent to and overlying said platen so as to position the transfer sheet carried thereby for transferring inscriptions made on said record strip to a leaf of said pad, said supporting frame having an opening through which the transfer sheet is exposed in transfer relation to said pad leaf, said manifolding device having a storage compartment for record strips, a swingably mounted cover plate for said storage compartment to which said platen supporting extension is pivoted, said platen and cover plate being spaced apart to provide a storage space therebetween for inscribed pad leaves, and one or more transfer sheet supporting elbow arms loosely articulated to said platen extension for supporting one or more transfersheets in transfer relation with the continuous record strips on said platen.

10. A manifolding device including, in combination, a casing having a record strip storage compartment, a cover plate for said storage compartment having pivotal connection to said casing to provide for opening and closing movements, a writing platen having a pivotal connection with said cover plate adjacent to the extremity thereof remote from said first mentioned pivotal connection, and a transfer sheet supporting frame having pivotal connection with said platen for swinging movements in the plane of the pivotal movements of said platen.

11. In a manifolding device, in combination, a platen for supporting one or more continuous record strips in inscription receiving position, and one or more elbow transfer sheet supporting arms loosely articulated to the manifolding device so as to be swung outwardly clear of the record strips.

12. In a manifolding device, in combination, a platen for supporting one or more continuous record strips in inscription receiving position,

one or more elbow transfer sheet supporting arms.

loosely articulated to the manifolding device so as to be swung outwardly clear of the record strips, and a retaining lug engageable with an angularly disposed part of each of said supporting arms for supporting the latter in operative position.

13. A manifolding device including, in combination, a casing having a record strip storage compartment, a cover plate for said storage compartment having a pivotal connection to said casing to provide for opening and closing movements, a writing platen having a supporting extension provided with a pivotal connection with said cover plate adjacent to the extremity thereof remote from said first mentioned pivotal connection, a transfer sheet supporting frame having pivotal connection with said platen adjacent to said supporting extension for swinging movements in the planeof the pivotal movements of said platen, and one or more elbow transfer sheet supporting arms loosely articulated at an angularly disposed supporting part thereof to said platen extension for supporting one or more transfer sheets in transfer relation with the continuous record strips on said platen.

JAMES GORDON KERR. 

